The War In The South-The War Comes to an End Coach Kuntz United States History

Fighting in the South -The South became the main battleground of the war in 1778. -The British knew many Loyalists lived in the south. They thought that if they marched through the south, the Loyalists would join the fight. -However, British troops and Loyalist militia burned farms, killed civilians, and tortured prisoners. This turned residents against the British.

Battle of Cowpens -In January 1781, General Morgan of Virginia won an important victory at Cowpens, South Carolina. -General Morgan used a clever tactic to win the battle– He divided his army into two lines. He had his front line retreat. Thinking the Americans were retreating, the British chased them. The British ran right into the fire of Morgan’s second line. -Americans: 25 killed, 124 wounded -British: 110 killed, 229 wounded, 829 captured or missing -Outcome: America won the battle and destroyed an important part of Cornwallis’s army in South Carolina.

Traitor! -American General Benedict Arnold was one of the best commanders in the American military. -He felt that he had not received enough credit for his victories -He secretly agreed to turn over the fort of West Point to the British. -Patriots found out about his plan, but Arnold escaped and joined the British. -Rewards were offered for his capture, and George Washington ordered that he be hanged. But Arnold was never captured.

Battle of Yorktown -General Cornwallis ignored orders to send his army to New York. Instead, he retreated to Yorktown peninsula in Virginia. -Cornwallis thought that the British ships could supply his army from the sea. -In September 1781, Washington managed to trap Cornwallis on the peninsula. His army marched south from New York and a French fleet under Admiral de Grasse cut off Cornwallis’s sea route. -Cornwallis was unable to leave the city.

The British Surrender -In September and October 1781, American and French troops laid siege to Cornwallis’s army. -The British lost the Battle of Yorktown. -On October 19, 1781, the British surrendered their weapons. -The French and the Americans lined up in two facing columns and forced the redcoats to march between the two in shame.

The Peace Treaty -Lord North, the British Prime Minister, knew the war was over and agreed to peace talks with the Americans. -In 1782, Congress sent Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay to Paris to work on a treaty. -Under the Treaty of Paris: Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River Northern Border was the Great Lakes Southern boundary was Florida which was given back to the Spanish -The treaty was ratified on April 15, 1783

Why the Americans Won -The British: Had to send supplies thousands of miles from home. Had to fight an enemy spread out over a wide area. Were not as familiar with the terrain. -Foreign help from the French was crucial to victory. -George Washington turned raw recruits into a well trained military -Washington’s leadership and military skills were respected by Americans and British alike.

Washington’s Farewell -December 1783- Washington bids farewell to his troops at Fraunces Tavern in New York City: “Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never before witnessed…We were then about to part from the man who had conducted us through a long and bloody war and under whose conduct the glory and independence of our country had been achieved.” -Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, Memoir